Goalie Robin Lehner is expected to start for the Buffalo Sabres. He made 23 saves in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. The Sabres did not have a morning skate. Coach Dan Bylsma shuffled his lines at practice Thursday, promoting Marcus Foligno to the top line with Kyle Okposo and Ryan O'Reilly. Evander Kane and Brian Gionta were centered by Johan Larsson, and Sam Reinhart skated with William Carrier and Matt Moulson. Buffalo is 4-3-3 in its past 10 games against the Capitals.
Capitals team scope
Philipp Grubauer will start against the Sabres in the first of a back-to-back, with Braden Holtby expected to play at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. This is Grubauer's fifth start of the season; he is 2-1-1 with a 2.00 goals-against and .925 save percentage. It's the finale of Washington's five-game homestand; the Capitals have won three of the first four games, including a 4-3 victory against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
Eichel practiced Thursday, but Bylsma said he will stay in Buffalo and skate on his own before returning to practice Sunday. Eichel was injured on Oct. 12 and has yet to play this season. … Oshie participated in the morning skate, but there's no target date for his return. Coach Barry Trotz said Oshie is "still week-to-week, but he's making progress." Chorney is replacing Nate Schmidt, who will be a healthy scratch.
Who's hot
Ovechkin has four goals in two games, including a hat trick against the Blues. He has 26 goals and 41 points in 39 career games against the Sabres. … Moulson leads the Sabres with seven goals in 20 games; he had eight all last season.
